Chapter 3

Dante paused, then laughed under his breath.

“How? I won’t be there as the groom. Who exactly do you plan to marry?”

His voice softened as if he were coaxing a stubborn child.

“Elena, you’ve never been the kind of woman who clings or makes scenes. I said I would marry you, and I will keep my word. You only need to be patient for a few more years. Be a good girl and serve as Bianca’s bridesmaid tomorrow, all right?”

Wait.

Again, he wanted me to wait.

I had waited ten years for him and had finally reached our wedding day.

Then, just before the ceremony, I discovered that he had been betraying me for three entire years.

Now he wanted me to wait again—to stand there and watch him hold a ceremony with another woman, then wait until he tired of her and condescended to return and marry me.

“I’m not waiting for you anymore, Dante.”

He either did not hear me or simply did not care.

He glanced at his watch, pulled Bianca back beneath the covers, and tossed out a careless remark.

“It’s still early. We can sleep a little longer.”

“Don’t worry. The true heir to the Valenti family will come from your body and no one else’s.”

I lowered my eyes, calmly threw the bridesmaid dress back onto the floor, and returned to the guest room.

My phone vibrated.

It was a message from Adrian.

I’m ready.

A photograph followed. A black suit lay perfectly arranged on a bed, beside an antique wedding ring engraved with the Bellandi family crest.

The marriage license has been handled. The waiver of the waiting period will be delivered before dawn. You don’t need to prepare a gown or a ring. My people will take everything directly to the hotel.

I stared at the screen for several seconds before replying.

Are you certain you want to marry me?

Adrian answered at once.

Elena, I never joke about marriage. Tomorrow, all you need to do is arrive on time. Leave everything else to me.

...

The next morning, the hair and makeup team waited awkwardly outside the master bedroom. Dante and his mistress were obviously still asleep.

I walked toward them from the far end of the corridor.

“I’m today’s bride. Get me ready.”

I had personally handled every pre-wedding discussion, fitting, and detail with them.

Of course they recognized me.

My makeup was nearly finished by the time Dante and Bianca finally came downstairs.

Morning light poured through the tall windows, making my brown hair gleam.

Dante stopped when he saw me. For a moment, he simply stared.

The stylist secured the final layer of my veil. I rose, gathering my skirts, and turned my face toward him.

He finally recovered and sighed helplessly.

“Elena, I told you I’ll make the wedding up to you later. Let Bianca have this one. Be good and take off the dress. She’ll be upset when she sees it.”

Rapid footsteps sounded from the stairs.

Bianca rushed down and clung to Dante’s arm.

The moment she saw my wedding gown, her expression changed.

“Today is supposed to be my wedding. Why is she still wearing a bridal gown?”

“My mother was a mistress. I swore as a child that I would never become a woman like her. But for you, I’ve carried that shame for three years.” Tears quickly filled her eyes, making her look pitiful. “And now you want me to share even my wedding with her?”

Dante immediately bent his head to comfort her.

His helpless panic reminded me of ten years earlier.

After the explosion, he had pulled me from the ruins. When he learned that I had lost both my parents, he had held me just as anxiously and sworn with awkward sincerity, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life.”

Memories were always the sharpest knives.

I gave a soft laugh and tossed a small, worn booklet onto the floor.

“Dante, I don’t want this anymore.”

If he had bothered to open it, he would have recognized the wish book we made together ten years ago.

Back then, he said that once we completed one hundred wishes, we would never separate.

Ten wishes remained unfinished.

I no longer wanted to complete them with him.

“Elena, perfect timing.”

Dante bent down, picked up the pink booklet, and handed it to Bianca.

“Babe, this is a couples’ wish book. If we complete one hundred wishes together, we’ll never separate. The dress is yours. The wedding is yours too.”

Bianca finally smiled through her tears. She leaned against Dante and looked at me with open provocation.

“Make her take off the dress. What right does a bridesmaid have to wear the bride’s gown?”

Dante crooked one finger.

Several maids immediately approached me.

“Elena. Take it off.”

The makeup artists looked embarrassed and tried to speak for me, but the guards stopped them and forcibly escorted them to another room.

The gown was heavy. Beneath it, I wore nothing but lingerie.

I looked around at the room full of people, then finally met Dante’s eyes.

“Are you sure you want me to undress here?”